Tang, 618–901

Unification was achieved by the short-lived Sui dynasty (581–617). The rule of Sui was known to be harsh, with many laborers drafted to reconstruct the Great Wall and to build the Grand Canal going from south to north. A system of civil service examinations was introduced to select scholars well versed in Confucian classics to become government officials. Sui was succeeded by the glorious Tang dynasty (618–901). Tang was known for many great achievements. The Chinese people were also called the Tang people. Chinatowns in America today are still called the "Streets of the Tang People" in Chinese. The tri-colored Tang Horses made of clay are exhibited in art museums and admired by many.

Buddhism from India began to gain popularity in China during the Tang period. When trade with the West was flourishing, worshipers commissioned colorful religious paintings on the walls inside the caves along the Silk Route. These are among the art treasures of the world. For the Chinese, Tang poetry was the most appreciated achievement of this period. A book of 300 best known poems written by Tang poets can be found in every Chinese home, even if there is a collection of only a small number of books. The best-loved poems are simple, conveying an interesting or emotionally moving message. They are easy to memorize and rhyme beautifully. There are so many good poems for an ordinary educated Chinese to recite that even those who cannot read can recite a few popular ones.

One long poem tells the love story of a Tang emperor and his concubine. He spent so much time with her as to ignore the affairs of the state. A rebellion occurred and had to be suppressed, but the army did not want to fight unless he got rid of the concubine. He was forced to order the termination of her life, only to regret deeply after the rebellion was suppressed. The name of the poem is "Forever Sorrow" or "Everlasting Regret." On the one hand, a historian might point out the incompetence of the emperor and his negligence of the affairs of the state for the love of a woman, and consider his love affair improper. On the other, the poem arouses so much emotion, tenderness and sympathy on the part of the reader that only the enduring love on the part of a noble emperor is recognized without any thought of possible misconduct on his part. One can keep on reciting such a beautiful Tang poem and repeat it many times, each time with more understanding and deeper emotions.